January 21, 2022 — “Mind Your Own Bee’s Wax” (Genesis 25:21-26)

“Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her,” Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger. ”

When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.” Genesis 25:21-26

“Mind Your Own Bee’s Wax”

Now, honestly, many may think that this is simply a coined phrase mimicking the more common and literal phrase, “mind your own business.” However, it turns out this has a more defined origin. Apparently, in the days before acne products, ladies would use a thin layer of bee’s wax to smooth their complexion where they had severe acne. From this practice has come several idioms over the years: If a lady looked too long or stared at another lady’s face, they might say, “Mind your own bee’s wax!” If the woman were to smile, it might crack the veneer of bee’s wax on her face, thus the phrase, “crack a smile.” Also, the phrase “losing face” came from when a girl would sit too close to the fire and the bee’s wax would melt.

The difference between Jacob and Esau could not have been any more striking — unless Esau would have used a razor and some bees wax. Esau was hairy and red — while Jacob was smooth skinned and handsome. But Esau was the oldest, and therefore was due to receive his father’s blessing and birthright. So, conspiring with his mother, Jacob steals his brother’s blessing — by dressing in Esau’s garments so as to fool his father Isaac, whose eyesight had dimmed.

We may be able to hide our true selves behind makeup and other dressings, but G-d knows what is inside each one of us. It does not matter how we look, how we dress, or how we appear to others. What earns praise in 21^st century America means nothing to G-d. G-d loves us for who we are — period — because we are all made by G-d, created by G-d — and so we are created perfect, in G-d’s eyes.

There is no need to “mind our own beeswax” — G-d sees us for who we are — and G-d loves us unconditionally.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, help me today to be mindful of my actions, and to know my true identity – a beloved child of G-d. Amen.

Pastor Dave